The vandalism of the Molly Malone statue should encourage people to think about “the bigger picture” regarding the statue. 

That’s according to Councillor Nial Ring, who said it might be time to “bring Molly back to Grafton Street”.

It comes as the front area of the iconic statue was covered with black paint overnight.

Cllr Ring described the paint as “mindless vandalism”. 

The statue was first erected in 1988 to celebrate the city’s first millennium. It was originally on Grafton Street but was moved in 2014. 

“It’s up on Suffolk Street, off the beaten track so to speak,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“'Most people will recall when it was down at the bottom of Grafton Street and was moved because of the Luas. 

“It was said that she would be brought back at the time.” 

Cllr Ring said we should look at the "bigger picture", and Molly Malone should be put back closer to her original place to increase “gender balance” among statues in the area. 

The vandalised Molly Malone statue. Image by Stephanie Rohan.

“If you look around that area, look at the statues that that are around there,” he said. “Outside Trinity, Edmund Burke and Oliver Goldsmith, then on College Street, you have Thomas Davis.” 

Of the 200 statues around Dublin, most are men, according to Cllr Ring. 

“Off the top of my head, I can only think of the Markiewicz statue there,” he said. 

'Mindless vandalism'

The front area of the iconic statue was covered with black paint overnight. 

“It brings to mind that here on the northside we have the Luke Kelly statue that has been vandalised several times,” Cllr Ring said. 

“Luckily enough, the City Council will have that [cleaned] today.” 

Dublin City Council said it will remove black paint on the Molly Malone statue as soon as possible. 

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